MCLAREN'S MISERY: F1 DQ PUTS MAX VERSTAPPEN'S FIFTH TITLE WITHIN REACH
Max Verstappen's 5th F1 title is in sight after McLaren's Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri are disqualified from the Las Vegas GP. A post-race skid plank violation causes a massive swing in the championship standings with two races left.
Max Verstappen's quest for a fifth straight Formula 1 championship got a boost after Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified after Saturday's Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Verstappen's victory narrowed the point difference between him and Norris to just 42 with two races left. But, a few hours later, McLaren was called to the stewards for failing inspection.
The issue? The skid wear on the McLarens didn't meet the minimum thickness rules. This protective plank on the car's underside had worn too thin, a problem that also led to Lewis Hamilton's disqualification earlier in the year.
McLaren's Andrea Stella explained that the cars were bottoming out more than they had in earlier practices, causing extra ground contact. He noted the damage to both cars was accidental and that the FIA agreed there was no intent to break the rules, acknowledging the circumstances.
Stella apologised to Norris and Piastri for the lost points at such a key point in their championship hopes, after strong outings all weekend. He said that, while it was disappointing, the team is still focused on the last two races.
The disqualifications shook up the standings, stripping Norris and Piastri of all points earned in Las Vegas. Norris went from a 30-point lead over Piastri and 42 over Verstappen to just 24 points ahead of Verstappen, with Piastri holding second based on his number of wins.
Verstappen has won the last two races in Qatar, where F1 heads next, and four of the last five in Abu Dhabi, where the season ends on Dec. 7.
It's quite a comeback for the Dutchman, who seemed out of it earlier in the year. Even after winning in Las Vegas, Verstappen wasn't focused on the championship.
He said that while there's still a big gap, they maximise what they have. He aimed to win again. They will see where they stand at the end of Abu Dhabi.
Las Vegas marked Verstappen's second win in four races. The four-time reigning champ continues to push his way back into title contention, despite his dislike for the event.
Verstappen’s issue comes from the focus on celebrities and parties instead of the race. But he always performs when he gets in the car.
He said some fans like the show, and some like different tracks. He prefers some weekends over others and is not really a showman but understands it's part of the Vegas experience.
Las Vegas was Verstappen’s 69th career win. It was his eighth straight podium, an F1-record eighth win in the U.S., and he beat points leader Norris by over 20 seconds.
Verstappen started second, taking the lead when Norris went wide trying to cut in front at the start.
Norris admitted fault, saying he let Verstappen win by braking too late.
After the first turn, Norris was stuck in third, and Piastri dropped from fifth to seventh. The two McLaren drivers have been battling for the lead in the standings all season.
Before being disqualified, Norris finished second, and Russell was third. Russell now takes second.
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes crossed the line fourth, but a penalty moved him to fifth, putting Piastri in fourth before he was disqualified. Antonelli is now third.
Piastri hasn't won since the Dutch Grand Prix in August and has just one podium finish in the seven races since. He seems to accept that his title hopes are fading.
Piastri said the first lap was wild, and he will try his best for the next two races to be ready. He said there's still a lot of laps left, and he'll try his best to capitalise if that happens.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton, the biggest mover of the race, qualified 20th after Ferrari's first last-place qualifying result since '09. He finished eighth.
Charles Leclerc was credited with fourth for Ferrari, as he and Hamilton both finished in the points after failing to finish in Brazil, which drew criticism from Ferrari's John Elkann.
GEORGE RUSSELL ADMITS ANTONELLI IS "EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK" BUT REFUSES TO CONCEDE TITLE
Kimi Antonelli secured his 3rd straight F1 win in Miami, leaving George Russell 43 seconds behind and 20 points down in the title race. (130 chars)
George Russell isn’t flinching. He’s not ready to let go of the story, even as Kimi Antonelli keeps grabbing headlines. Antonelli’s been tearing it up this season – three straight wins, all from pole – and it’s got people talking. Miami was rough for Russell; he finished fourth, over 43 seconds behind Antonelli. That gap isn’t just big; it’s glaring, and it’s putting some real heat on their rivalry at Mercedes.
Russell isn’t pretending things are fine, but he’s not throwing in the towel either. He gets what Antonelli’s doing and gives props where they’re deserved. “He’s a fantastic driver, and he’s been fast since day one,” Russell said. “You don’t win all those championships as a kid if you’re not quick.” He means it, but he’s also drawing a boundary. Russell still believes in himself, and he’s not giving up on the championship.
“I’ve still got confidence in myself, and I haven’t forgotten how to drive,” he said with a little smile. “It’s just a tricky patch, but we’re only four races in; there’s a lot more to come. We’ll sort things out over the next few weeks.”
That “tricky patch” doesn’t just mean some tough luck; it includes a 20-point deficit and a teammate who won’t stop rewriting history. Antonelli’s winning streak has changed the vibe at Mercedes, at least for now.
Russell knows all about momentum and how it doesn’t always stick around. “He’s got momentum right now; he’s flying,” Russell admitted. “But I’ve won championships myself, and I know momentum swings back and forth all year.” He actually doesn’t seem bothered by the points gap. “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it,” he said.
It’s a calm answer from a guy who’s been here before, leaning on experience while Antonelli rides his hot streak. Russell keeps saying 'big picture, patience, not panic'.
“I just want to get back on top of the podium,” he said. “I had the pace for the first three races, but this weekend I was nowhere close. It could have gone very differently these last few weeks, and this weekend could’ve just been a blip. But some races in Japan and China didn’t go my way. That’s how F1 goes sometimes.”
Still, confidence doesn’t erase a 20-point gap, not if Antonelli keeps cruising. If Antonelli keeps piling up wins, Russell’s going to have to fight more than just the stopwatch. Losing to your teammate over and over starts to mess with your head. Russell began the season as the guy to beat, but the longer this keeps up, the tougher it gets to grab hold of the story again.
He’s holding firm, for now. But F1 doesn’t wait for anyone. What does Russell call “just a tricky run”? Well, if momentum doesn’t swing his way soon, it could become a whole lot more than that.
MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES FRONT ROW IN MIAMI AS RED BULL UPGRADES DELIVER IMMEDIATE RESULTS
Charles Leclerc admitted surprise at Red Bull's pace after Max Verstappen finished P2, just 0.166s behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc expected Red Bull to bounce back, but he couldn’t help admiring Max Verstappen’s raw speed at the Miami Grand Prix.
Red Bull rolled into Miami with a big upgrade, looking to recover after a rough start to the season. Verstappen, a four-time world champ, landed his Red Bull in second during qualifying. He was only 0.166 seconds behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, nearly snatching pole. After qualifying, Verstappen said he finally feels like he’s back in control of his car.
Leclerc was impressed by the turnaround. “Honestly, it’s not shocking to see Kimi up there. Mercedes has been the quickest team this year, and Kimi’s been amazing these last few races,” Leclerc said. “But Max and Red Bull are coming back like this? That’s a bit more surprising. The upgrades clearly worked, and you can’t forget how strong that team really is. You never expect them to just sit back and accept a slow start.”
He added, “We figured they’d come back swinging, but to see them right back on the front row after struggling at the start… that’s something else. It’s pretty remarkable. Still, my job’s the same: beat those guys. That’s where my head’s at right now.”
Leclerc had to settle for third on the grid for Sunday’s race. Ferrari looked strong early in qualifying, but their hopes faded by Q3.
He talked about the changing conditions, but didn’t think that’s what hurt Ferrari. “The wind definitely played a part, but track temperature wasn’t all that different, so I don’t think that’s the reason,” he said. “Maybe the track changed, and we didn’t see it coming, or maybe pushing harder today in qualifying just made our car’s weak spots stand out more.”
Leclerc admitted he hadn’t dug into the numbers yet; he’d just gotten out of the car. “We’ll have to check the details to figure out exactly where we lost time.”
